A new 60-second radio ad set to air in Iowa accuses Texas Sen. Ted Cruz of being a "phony" when it comes to his Christian faith,
Politico reports.
Americans United for Values plans to spend $125,000 on the ad on news-talk, sports and Christian stations across Iowa, a small buy compared to others spending in the millions.
The ad talks about the leaked audio from a December fundraiser in New York in which Cruz says he would not make same-sex marriage a top priority as president.
"I saw something about Ted Cruz. About how gay marriage wouldn’t be a top priority for him," a woman's voice says.
"I saw that, too," another woman responds. "He said it at a New York fundraiser. He tells them one thing, tells Iowa another."
The ad also mentions a report from 2012 that Cruz gave less than 1 percent of his income – $44,000 – to charity between 2006 and 2010.
"I also heard he gives less than 1 percent to charity and church," one of the women says.
"He doesn’t tithe?" the other responds. "Isn't he a millionaire? His wife worked for a big Wall Street bank, right?"
By the end of the ad, one of the women calls Cruz a "phony," according to Politico.
Cruz, who touts his Christian roots, has in recent weeks caught up to businessman Donald Trump in Iowa, where the evangelical vote is a major player in the GOP caucuses.
He has become a target not only of Trump, but others seeking the nomination, including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, an ordained minister, who
sent out a series of tweets Wednesday knocking Cruz for toning down his beliefs while fundraising in New York.
A super PAC supporting Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is running an ad calling Cruz "consistently calculated" while a super PAC backing Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul has an ad calling Cruz a "phony" conservative.